fort independence tours

Castle Island Association

• Cannons and Mortar
• Present Day Structure
• Archive’s Gallery
• Flag Day June 2022
• USS Constitution Turnaround June 2022
• 1976 Renovations
• Flag Day June 2023
• Kids Fun Facts

Introduction to Fort Independence Site

This website will have seven web pages describing Fort Independence, some historical events,  and the area around the Fort in greater detail. The Massachusetts Historical Commission named the Fort to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Each web page will have external links to other historical sites for further detailed reading. The web pages will have plenty of text to read and compelling images that will make you want to visit this historical site in person.

2024 Update on Fort

Free tours will be offered at Fort this year; see the link for specific hours. Tours this year will also have some areas of the internal portions of the Fort open.

As a result of portions of Fort being open this summer, The Association wants to return the popular Halloween event in October. For this event to happen, the Association will urgently require more Volunteers to help get the event set up and running.

Walk-thru of the For t

The walk-through page will give you a virtual tour of the inside of the Fort. This walk-through will start at the Front Entrance of the Fort. We then proceed to the second tier, on clear days, you have a great panoramic view of Dorchester Heights, Boston Lighthouse, and downtown Boston as we walk around this level. This view will show why the original builders chose this exceptional location to protect Boston Neck, the Inner Harbor, and all water approaches to Boston.

Fort Independence History

The history-of-fort page will chronologically describe the eight Forts built at this location and some significant events at the Fort. The first Fort was constructed in 1634 at this exact location.

Castle Island State Park

Castle Island State Park page will show the numerous current amenities the park offers on Castle Island Park and in the neighboring area.  This is an excellent page to check before you visit Castle Island.

Kids-Fun-Facts

kids-fun-facts page with fun facts and images about the Fort to hopefully perk Kids interest in visiting it.

The CIA will briefly describe the great work the Castle Island Association does at the Fort and surrounding grounds.

Present Day Structure

The  Present Day  page will cover the original construction of the present-day structure, which started in 1834. This page will also include information about designer and builder General Sylvanus Thayer. Renovations done to the  Fort 1970s. Some details of quarries in Rockport and sailboats used to transport the granite to Boston.

Gallery 

The gallery page will include pictures of the outside and inside of the Present Day Fort. A pulldown menu has photos and a video of the USS Constitution Turnaround in June 2022, pictures of Flag Day in June 2022, photos of the 1976 Renovations, and a collection of older images in the Archive dating back to the 1880s.

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Fort independence - castle william.

Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Fort Independence, formerly known as Castle William, sits on top of Castle Island. Due to its strategic location on Boston Harbor , this site has served as the home to military fortifications for hundreds of years. It is considered the "oldest fortified military site in British North America." 1

The first known fort at this site dates back to the 1630s, when Governor John Winthrop ordered the construction of a fort on Castle Island. 2 The fort expanded in the 1640s and in the 1690s due to the constant fear of attacks by French naval forces. In 1701, the fort became officially known as Castle William, named after William II of England. 3

Castle William's role shifted from protecting against potential attacks from European powers to providing a refuge for British soldiers facing colonial upheaval in Boston. After the Boston Massacre in 1770, Bostonians called for British troops stationed in the city to be removed to Castle William. 4 British forces maintained their presence at Castle William for the next six years.

In the beginning of March 1776, the Continental Army fortified nearby Dorchester Heights in the dead of night. British forces from Castle William witnessed this fortification and organized an attack. General William Howe, with 11,000 soldiers at his command, ordered an attack on Dorchester Heights. 5 However, due to poor weather, British forces had to return to the safety of the fort. 6

With George Washington's Continental Army surrounding Boston, General Howe and his troops prepared to leave the city. In one final act of aggression against the enemy, British forces fired upon the Continental Army as they constructed new fortifications on Dorchester Point. 7 This attack proved unsuccessful, injuring British soldiers due to a misfired cannon. Documenting the events of the day in his diary, British Lieutenant General Archibald Robertson wrote,

20th [March]… Between one and two found the Rebels had begun a new Work on Dorchester Point opposite Castle William. We fired at them from the Castle and by a Gun bursting had 7 men wounded. 8

Hours later, British forces evacuated Boston and set Castle Island, including the fort, on fire. 9 Robertson noted the General's order to load mines at the Castle and the following destruction:

Accordingly at 8 o'clock 6 Companies Embark’d and the Boats lay off untill the mines were fired, which was done 1/2 an hour Afterwards and they had a very good Effect. The Barracks and other houses were then set on fire and at 9 ... we got all safe on board the Transports. 10

After the smoke cleared, Continental forces quickly rebuilt the fortifications at Castle William into a star-shaped fort. 11 Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere led the troops stationed here. 12

When the war ended, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts used the fort as a state prison. In the late 1790s, the federal government took command of the fort, repairing and expanding it. In 1799, President John Adams renamed Castle William to Fort Independence. 13

When the country faced times of war, the US Military prepared Fort Independence for battle. During the War of 1812, and later from 1834 to 1851, the fort was repaired and expanded. 14 Fort Independence served as an armory during the Civil War, with the Fourth Battalion of Massachusetts Infantry stationed here. 15 The Fort also remained active during the World Wars in case of a coastal attack. 16

Today, Fort Independence is part of a state park on Castle Island. Throughout the warmer months of the year, the Castle Island Association provides free tours of Fort Independence in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

• "A plan of Fort Independence," Collections Online, Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) , accessed February 8, 2022, https://www.masshist.org/database/418 .
• Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation and National Park Service, "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park vol 1 (Boston, Massachusetts: 2000/2017), http://npshistory.com/publications/boha/clr-v1.pdf , 84.
• "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 85.
• "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 86; Richard Frothingham, "History of the siege of Boston" (Boston: C. C. Little and J. Brown, 1851), 6-7, Archive.org .
• "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 86.
• "Nation Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory: Dorchester Heights National Historic Site," Boston NHP - Dorchester Heights , 2010 https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/449583 , 29
• "A plan of Fort Independence."
• Archibald Robertson, "Archibald Robertson: His Diaries And Sketches In America, 1762-1780" (New York: New York Public Library, 1971), 80, HathiTrust .
• Frothingham, "History of the siege of Boston," 312.
• Robertson, "Archibald Robertson: His Diaries And Sketches In America, 1762-1780," 81.
• "Nation Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory."
• "A plan of Fort Independence," (MHS) ; "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 76.
• "A plan of Fort Independence,"  (MHS) ; "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 88.
• "Nation Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory;" "A plan of Fort Independence," (MHS) .
• "Cultural Landscape Report for the Boston Harbor Islands," 92.
• "Castle Island/Fort Independence," The Cultural Landscape Foundation, accessed February 9, 2022, https://www.tclf.org/castle-island-fort-independence .

Boston National Historical Park

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Last updated: January 16, 2023

Fort Independence

Michael Trevis

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Part of our in-depth series exploring the forts of Northern Early America

The island got its name from the fact that every fort located here was always informally known as "The Castle."

Quickly appreciated for its strategic location for the protection of Boston from sea attack, the first fortification on Castle Island was an earthwork and three cannon ordered in 1634 by Governor Dudley of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

After the evacuating British destroyed the island's fortifications 1776, the fort was repaired by troops under the command of Lt. Paul Revere.

The present five pointed granite structure is the eighth fort to occupy this site and contains over 172,687 linear feet of hammered stone and was constructed under the direction of Colonel Sylvanus Thayer between 1834 and 1851.

Many people erroneously believe Fort Independence to be constructed with granite from nearby Quincy; however, with local stone being more costly, the project was instead carried out at considerable savings to taxpayers with granite hauled by boat from quarries on distant Cape Ann.

Using the name Perry, the nineteenth century American author Edgar Allan Poe served on Castle Island for five months in 1827 and is said to have based the story "The Cask of Amontillado" on an early Castle Island legend.

In 1818 Boston residents were thrown into a considerable panic by the reported sightings off Castle Island of large sea serpents.

After it was no longer needed for coastal defense, Castle Island was purchased by the MDC from the federal government in 1962 .

On October 15, 1970, Castle Island and Fort Independence were placed on the Register of National Historic Places.

Guided & Self-Guided Tour Information

We're delighted to share that Castle Island and Fort Independence are free of charge to access. The fantastic Castle Island Association provides sponsorship for free tours guided by knowledgeable volunteers. Typically these run throughout the high season (beginning Memorial Day weekend).

By car, from Interstate 93/Southeast Expressway, take the Columbia Road/UMass/JFK Library exit to the rotary adjacent to the Bayside Expo. Follow signs for Day Boulevard. Follow roadway east along the shore all the way to the end.

By public transportation, ride the following MBTA buses to the end of the line: City Point-Downtown via Northern Ave.; City Point-Downtown-Bayview; City Point-Copley Sq. via Broadway; and City Poin t-Copley Sq. via Andrew.

For more information, call MBTA Travel Information at 617-222-3200.

One of Boston's most popular public promenades, the twenty-two acres surrounding Fort Independence at Castle Island offer an amazing variety of magnificent views of the city. Along several miles of safe and beautifully maintained walkways, visitors enjoy an up-close experience with the excitement typical of Boston's marine culture, past and present.

The fort will be open for guided tours every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from noon to 3:30 p.m. Thursday evenings throughout the season, come visit for Twilight Skyline Viewing from 7:00 p.m. until dusk.

The Thursday evening tour series presents exceptional photo opportunities for the Boston city skyline and harbor throughout the summer months. All openings weather permitting.

Communities and Related Links

Boston convention and visitors bureau, castle island history.

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Castle Island Fort Independence

Castle island association.

FORT OPENINGS (Health & Safety, & Weather Permitting)

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, Free Tours are offered

by Castle Island Association Volunteers

JUNE, JULY & AUGUST

June & july, saturday and sundays full tours noon to 3:00pm, thursday evening twilight viewing 7:00pm to dusk.

Note: Fort Independence is handicapped accessible only on the 1st level. 

To arrange special & group tours contact us by email: [email protected]

write to us :   Castle Island Association                            P.O. Box 342

                       South Boston, MA  02127

email us:      

To arrange special & group tours contact us by email.

DIRECTIONS : Rt. 3 Exit 15  Edward  Everett  Square/Columbia Road. Head east and follow signs to Castle Island and William J. Day Boulevard in South Boston. Continue on Day Blvd. for several miles (with the beach on your right). Castle Island is at the end of the road. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Easter Sunrise Mass

Castle Island,  by the McKay Monument

The island got its name from the fact that every fort located here was always informally known as "The Castle."

Quickly appreciated for its strategic location for the protection of Boston from sea attack, the first fortification on Castle Island was an earthwork and three cannon ordered in 1634 by Governor Dudley of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

After the evacuating British destroyed the island's fortifications 1776, the fort was repaired by troops under the command of Lt. Paul Revere.

The present five pointed granite structure is the eighth fort to occupy this site and contains over 172,687 linear feet of hammered stone and was constructed under the direction of Colonel Sylvanus Thayer between 1834 and 1851.

Many people erroneously believe Fort Independence to be constructed with granite from nearby Quincy; however, with local stone being more costly, the project was instead carried out at considerable savings to taxpayers with granite hauled by boat from quarries on distant Cape Ann.

Using the name Perry, the nineteenth century American author Edgar Allan Poe served on Castle Island for five months in 1827 and is said to have based the story "The Cask of Amontillado" on an early Castle Island legend.

In 1818 Boston residents were thrown into a considerable panic by the reported sightings off Castle Island of large sea serpents.

After it was no longer needed for coastal defense, Castle Island was purchased by the MDC from the federal government in 1962 .

On October 15, 1970, Castle Island and Fort Independence were placed on the Register of National Historic Places.

By car, from Interstate 93/Southeast Expressway, take the Columbia Road/UMass/JFK Library exit to the rotary adjacent to the Bayside Expo. Follow signs for Day Boulevard. Follow roadway east along the shore all the way to the end.

By public transportation, ride the following MBTA buses to the end of the line: City Point-Downtown via Northern Ave.; City Point-Downtown-Bayview; City Point-Copley Sq. via Broadway; and City Poin t-Copley Sq. via Andrew.

For more information, call MBTA Travel Information at 617-222-3200.

One of Boston's most popular public promenades, the twenty-two acres surrounding Fort Independence at Castle Island offer an amazing variety of magnificent views of the city. Along several miles of safe and beautifully maintained walkways, visitors enjoy an up-close experience with the excitement typical of Boston's marine culture, past and present.

The fort will be open for guided tours every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from noon to 3:30 p.m. Thursday evenings throughout the season, come visit for Twilight Skyline Viewing from 7:00 p.m. until dusk.

The Thursday evening tour series presents exceptional photo opportunities for the Boston city skyline and harbor throughout the summer months. All openings weather permitting.

Communities and Related Links

Boston convention and visitors bureau, castle island history.

Castle Island: The Complete Guide

Castle Island is one of the main landmarks in Boston ’s South Boston neighborhood, known to locals as "Southie." A trip to this historical site offers not only a glimpse into significant events in U.S. history, but also plenty of activities and sights for visitors. 

Its history dates back to 1634 when it was used as a sea defense for the city of Boston . While it originated as an earthwork with two platforms and three cannons, later structures replaced this, including a pine log fort in 1644, another structure in 1653 and a fourth in 1673 when the previous was destroyed by a fire.

In 1703, another fort was built, this one known as “Castle William,” which had over 70 cannons on site. During historic events such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, many used Castle William as a source of protection. As the British evacuated Boston in 1775, this fort was destroyed but then repaired under the direction of Lt. Colonel Paul Revere. Castle William was even the site of stamp storage after the passing of the Stamp Act in 1765.

Ultimately, in 1799, President John Adams built and named a new fort “Fort Independence,” and it was reconstructed in 1851 to increase its height and size, along with subbing out brick for granite. The reason Castle Island doesn’t seem like much of an island today is that it was connected via a bridge back in 1892, which was then completely filled in during the 1930s.

What to See and Do

Go for a Walk: The most popular activity at Castle Island is walking along the HarborWalk , which is a 2.2-mile loop along the ocean. Here you’ll find families and their four-legged friends casually strolling and others getting more exercise in by running around the loop. It’s nice and flat and perfect for all ages, and the route can be shortened by avoiding the walk around Fort Independence.

Hit the Beach: Along the walk, you’ll pass by Pleasure Beach, a great spot for posting up at the beach and swimming in the artificial pond known as Pleasure Bay. There’s also another smaller beach closer to Fort Independence. And off the beaches, that’s where you’ll oftentimes find wind surfers taking advantage of the breeze and cove.

Take a Tour: Free guided tours of Fort Independence run weekend days from noon to 3:30 p.m. They are led by volunteers of the Castle Island Association , a group that works to preserve and celebrate its history. The tours are 30 minutes and give a glimpse into the fort’s history through colonial and revolutionary times.

Grab a Bite to Eat: Many people come to Castle Island specifically to get lobster rolls, hot dogs, ice cream and more from Sullivan’s Castle Island , known to most as “Sully’s,” a true South Boston landmark that has been open since 1951. It opens for the season as early as late February and each year it celebrates the kick-off with half-price hot dogs. Expect a very long line as people flock from near and far to get in on the deal. And with the opening of Sully’s comes the excitement of spring being (finally) just around the corner, though in recent years it has taken a while for the warm weather to stick around.

Entertain Your Kids: Castle Island is a great spot to bring the kids not only for a hot dog at Sullivan’s and a nice family walk, but also for the great playgrounds and grassy areas to grill and picnic. The biggest playground is a short walk from Sullivan’s—you can’t miss the kiddos running around and this is also where you’ll find the public restrooms. There’s also an ice cream truck that typically stops by the parking lot across the street from City Point, a greenway with a pavilion, another playground, and bathhouse.

Aside from the City Point parking area, you can find plenty of parking along the HarborWalk as you head toward Sullivan’s, and there you’ll find a larger parking lot that does tend to get crowded given its central location to all things Castle Island.

Things to Do Nearby

South Boston continues to be an up-and-coming neighborhood, and with that, many great restaurants pop up every year. One that’s walking distance from Castle Island is Local 149 , where you’ll find modern American bar food and plenty of craft beers and unique cocktails.

You can also head to Broadway, the destination for most of the other popular restaurants in the area, along with various boutiques and shops to pop into. And also not too far from Castle Island is Boston’s Seaport neighborhood , home of Legal Seafood Harborside with a huge roof deck overlooking the ocean, and many other restaurants and bars.

If you happen to be visiting South Boston and Castle Island between November and February, you can head to the DCR Murphy Memorial Skating Rink for public ice skating.

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Castle Island - Fort William - Fort Independence (2)

• Boston and The Dual-Powered King of the South
• United States
• Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States

Created By: Volunteer JW Boston

Information

This used to be an Island and a British Fortress knows as ‘the Castle’, Then Castle William or Fort William, then Fort Adams in 1778, then Fort Independence (This is the second Fort Independence as the first was in Hull MA from 1776-1782). Whatever it’s name, it's considered the " oldest fortified military site in British North America " It was rebuilt and expanded 6 times prior to the American Revolution, once during it, and twice afterwards. During the Revolutionary War this Fort became a refuge for British soldiers facing colonial upheaval in Boston. In March 1776 the Continental Army fortified nearby Dorchester Heights in the dead of night. General William Howe ordered an attack but due to poor weather had to return to the safety of the fort. By that time there were over 200 guns here with multiple heavily fortified bastions. With the Colonial armies surrounding Boston, General Howe announced the evacuation (See “Dorchester Heights” for more) In evacuating they set the fort on fire and placed land mines to destroy it. After being rebuilt it was used as a state prison for a short time.

During the war of 1812 the fort was again repaired and expanded. This was commonly called America’s Second War of Independence as it bitted the fledgling United States, barely 20 years old, against Great Britain in a conflict that centered on the recognition of American commercial and political rights.

George Washington, in his Farewell Address, laid out this policy of American neutrality in European affairs.

“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.” – George Washington, 1796

However, both the British and the French expected American support during the war and would not accept American neutrality in the matter. Both sides attacked and impounded American shipping, trusting that the United States Navy was unable to respond effectively, and expecting the ‘democratic experiment’ to fail. The British continued to forcibly conscript American sailors for service in the British Royal Navy. After these diplomatic issues, The United States declared war on Great Britain, thinking this would give the country a chance to attack and capture parts of Canada. However, it’s troops were often ill-disciplined militia with a very small core of professional soldiers against the British massive numbers of experienced troops and the most powerful Navy afloat, known as the Royal Navy.

During this was Castle Williams never had to fire a shot in defense. Admiral Cochrane, the commander of British naval forces in the North American region declined to attack New York Harbor because of the system of coastal defense in place. The four-story masonry fortress with its massed artillery batteries was a sufficient deterrent on its own, guarding the major approaches to Lower Manhattan by sea. Instead, the Royal Navy landed General Ross and his British invasion force on the coast of Maryland. This veteran British force swept aside pitiful American resistance and went on to burn Washington D.C. to the ground.

The War of 1812 was a stalemate in the final analysis. Despite stunning American victories in single-ship actions at sea, like the fight between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere , and Andrew Jackson’s defense of New Orleans, the United States had not won enough major battles to call for a favorable peace. Instead, things were restored to the same state of affairs as before the war with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent between the United States and Great Britain. Castle Island remained untested in combat but was active during the World Wars in case of a coastal attack.

Edgar Allan Poe, who served in the Army here briefly in 1827, wrote "The Cask of Amontillado" which was loosely based on an incident that was said to have occurred here in December 1817 which turned out to be legend.

The fort was inactive from 1880 to 1898, briefly reactivated during the Spanish-American War as a mine depot. A two-gun AA battery was built in 1917, but no guns mounted. The old fort was open to the public between the World Wars. An earthen causeway was built in 1925, with a car road added in 1932. A U.S. Navy Degaussing Station was here 1942 - 1945. The fort was finally surplused in 1960. The outer batteries were demolished in 1964, and the ground was leveled to form a park. The surrounding area was also in-filled to connect with the mainland. Open to the public again beginning in 1975.

-Source Links-

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/war-1812-timeline

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/brief-overview-war-1812

https://home.nps.gov/gois/learn/historyculture/castle-williams-and-the-war-of-1812.htm

https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-independence-castle-william.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_William_and_Mary

https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/maboston1.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Defenses_of_Boston

http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Independence_(1)

https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/edgar-allan-poe-writes-a-story-based-on-a-boston-harbor-legend/

This point of interest is part of the tour: Boston and The Dual-Powered King of the South

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Castle Island and Fort Independence Tours

Starting Memorial Day weekend, volunteers will be offering free tours of Fort Independence.

• Contact: Castle Island Association
• Price: FREE
• Neighborhood: South Boston
• Event Type: Family friendly Learning and lectures Preservation Month
• Posted: 03/30/2018 - 2:10pm

Free tours of the Fort are sponsored by the Castle Island Association, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Fort Independence Tours

Living with Castle Island as your backyard, it can be quite easy to take the spectacular 22 acre waterfront park for granted. It’s a perfect spot for a stroll, a jog, rollerblading or especially stuffing your face with the delectable delights of everything on Sully’s menu.

But – and I bet we are all guilty of it – don’t miss out on the incredible history lesson that is Fort Independence at Castle Island.

Did you know, for instance, that Fort Independence is the oldest continually fortified granite bastion fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts? Fort Independence played a variety of roles in colonial and revolutionary times.

The fort was constructed from 1834 to 1851 and is the eighth iteration of forts on the island. The fort served as an armory during the Civil War, and was also utilized during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. In 1962 ownership of the fort shifted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is literally bursting with history.

What you might not know is that the Fort Independence is open for FREE tours every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3:30 pm and Thursday evenings at 6pm. The tours last about 30 minutes.

Take some friends and family over to Castle Island for a little history, exercise and some fabulous eats at Sully’s.

Both Fort Independence and Castle Island are listed on the state and national registers of historic places, and the Fort is a National Historic Landmark.

(Photo credit: The Cultural Landscape Foundation)

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History of castle island and visitor information.

Fort Independence, a pentagonal five-bastioned, granite fort built between 1834 and 1851 is the dominating feature of Castle Island. The site had been used for other forts since 1623. Fort Independence was under federal control and used by the military during World War I and World War II. Fort Independence and Castle Island are on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The 22-acre urban park is connected to the mainland by both walkways and roads.

Visitor Information

Fort Independence is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, hours vary.

The Castle Island Association sponsors free scenic tours of Fort Independence at Castle Island, weather permitting.  June and July Saturday and Sunday- Noon to 3:00pm Thursday- Twilight skyline viewing 7:00pm to dusk August Saturday and Sunday- Noon to 3:00pm

September - October Sundays only- Noon to 3:00pm (ending Columbus Day weekend)

Holiday Day Weekend: Saturday, Sunday & Monday, October 7-9

Fort Independence is handicap accessible only on the first floor.

Pleasure Bay, M Street Beach, and Carson Beach recreation

Pleasure Bay, the M Street Beach and Carson Beach form a three mile stretch of parkland along the South Boston shoreline of Dorchester Bay.

Carson Beach offers some beautiful views and great public amenities:

• Mothers' Rest Area
• Public restrooms - closed
• Exhibit space
• Lifeguard services (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
• Outdoor courtyards for relaxation

Carson Beach also features a walkway which allows one to walk, bike, or run along the water's edge from Castle Island to the Kennedy Library. The Boston Harborwalk , which spans most of the city's waterfront, is accessible from the park. 

Related   to Learn more about Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, M Street Beach, and Carson Beach

• Learn more from the Castle Island Association 
• Find other Massachusetts State Parks 

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Fort Independence’s Free Tour Season Has Begun

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Photo by Craig Stanfill on Flickr/ Creative Commons

What’s summer in Boston without a few history lessons?

Fort Independence on Castle Island kicked off its season of tours a few weeks back and it’s calling all history buffs to check them out. Self-guided sunset tours are offered every Thursday on the top of the fort from 7 p.m. to dusk, and guided full fort tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 3:30 p.m.

Oh, and the tours are free.

“You can’t get any better than that,” says Bill Spain, president of the Castle Island Association. “You can’t beat that price.”

He says the tours usually run about an hour long, boasting panoramic views of Boston, Quincy, Dorchester, the Harbor Islands, and the airport.

Castle Island is the oldest continuously fortified site of all of the formerly British parts of the United States. The island (which is technically no longer an island) has been home to several different forts since 1634.

An early fort at the site, dubbed Castle William, served as a headquarters for the British military. British troops abandoned the fort after the Revolutionary War, and in the 1790s, it was renamed to Fort Independence. The present pentagonal structure was completed in 1851 and was in operation through World War II. According to the Massachusetts Historical Society , it’s the eighth generation of forts or “castles” to occupy Castle Island.

Boston’s own Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Fort Independence in the summer of 1827. His short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is said to be based on a legend Poe heard about the fort, in which a popular lieutenant is killed, so his crew attacks the lieutenant’s killer and seals him up in a vault within the fort.

After Castle Island was no longer necessary in defending the harbor, the federal government handed over the site to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in 1962. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and today, Castle Island is open as a historic site and park year-round.

More information about tours is available at bostonfortindependence.com .

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Castle Island, Boston: Top Things To Do

Whether you are looking for a sunny beach or interested in American history, Castle Island in South Boston is a great destination for you.

Castle Island is ideal for people of all ages. You will find little kids playing happily, young couples strolling hand in hand, and elderly visitors soaking up the sun or chatting with their friends.

Keep reading to discover what and where Castle Island is, how to get there, what to do, and more.

This post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my disclosures .

Castle Island, Boston: Basic Facts

Castle Island is located on the coast in South Boston, a quiet working-class neighborhood often called “Southie.” (South Boston should NOT be confused with the South End – that’s a totally different area of Boston.)

Despite the name, Castle Island isn’t an island, and there isn’t a castle there, either. But there  is  a centuries-old military installation, Fort Independence.

Castle Island also features lovely beaches, walking paths, a large playground, and a pier for fishing. Not to mention an excellent view of Boston Harbor!

I will talk more about the history of Castle Island and Fort Independence below, but for now I will just say: it  was  once an island. It was only in the 20th century that the island was connected to the mainland via a landfill.

Now Castle Island is a peninsula jutting out into Boston Harbor. Immediately to the south is Pleasure Bay, while to the north across the harbor is Logan International Airport.

How to get to Castle Island

You can easily get to Castle Island by car or by public transportation.

Getting to Castle Island by car

A free parking lot is available on Castle Island itself, right next to Sullivan’s. There is also street parking on William J. Day Boulevard along Pleasure Bay. There are many parking spaces, but they fill up quickly on weekends in the summer. Be prepared to drive around a bit to find a spot.

You may need to park further away on Pleasure Bay and then walk 10-15 minutes along the beach to get to Castle Island itself. But since the beach is one of the main attractions, this isn’t necessarily a problem.

Getting to Castle Island by public transportation

It is also quite simple to get to Castle Island via public transportation. Bus lines 7, 9, 10, and 11 will all drop you off within 15 minutes of Castle Island and 5 minutes of Pleasure Bay.

Here are the closest bus stops:

• On lines 7, 9, and 11, get off at  Farragut Road opposite  E 2nd Street
• On line 10, get off at  E Broadway at Farragut Road

You can connect to these bus lines conveniently from the T. For example, my husband and I live in Somerville, so we took the Red Line to Broadway and then switched to the 7 bus. The total cost for subway + bus was $4.10 per person.

For people who don’t have cars, Castle Island is an amazing beach option. I was very pleased with how easy the whole process was.

PRO TIP: If you are new to Boston buses, note that you need to request your stop by pushing the red button. Upcoming stops will be announced over the intercom, so pay attention and hit that STOP button as soon as you hear your stop.

Top Things To Do at Castle Island

Relax on the beach.

Next to Castle Island lies a small body of water called Pleasure Bay. A crescent-shaped causeway encircles the bay and shelters it from the main part of Boston Harbor. This creates an ideal place to swim and sunbathe.

There are two beach options: Pleasure Bay Beach and the smaller Castle Island Beach. Both beaches are maintained by the city in the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Life guards are on duty during this time to ensure the safety of beach goers.

Pleasure Bay has calm, clean water perfect for families with young children. We saw lots of toddlers happily splashing in the water as well as older children and adults relaxing on the sand.

Further out in the bay, past the buoys, you can use non-motorized boats. It is also a popular place for wind-surfers to hang out.

Stroll around the island

Locals and tourists alike enjoy the various paths on and near Castle Island. Walkers, joggers, bikers, and roller-bladers all share the space.

There are two main routes. Both are paved and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

The Castle Island Loop circles the entire “island”, but it is still only half a mile long. You walk around the fort along the harbor and enjoy the fresh sea breeze.

The Pleasure Bay Loop is just over 2 miles. It takes you around the island and around the causeway encircling Pleasure Bay. If you want to stretch your legs and get even MORE views of the harbor, then this is the route for you.

Both loops have plenty of scenic points as well as benches to sit and rest. There are also various monuments to admire such as the South Boston Korean War Memorial and the Monument to Donald McKay , the inventor of the swift clipper ships.

Take a tour of Fort Independence

One of the big attractions on Castle Island is Fort Independence , a star fort built in the 1800s. It dominates the landscape and you can’t possibly miss it.

For most of the year the fort is a mysterious, silent testimony to Boston’s military past. But in the summer you can go inside and take a free guided tour of the site.

It is definitely worth it – my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. For us the highlights of the tour were the historical commentary on Boston, the historical flag collection, and the cannons.

Free tours run between 12 and 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Each tour lasts at least 30 minutes, but may go longer depending on the guide. Our guide, for instance, gave us lots of fascinating information and our tour lasted a whole hour.

Tours leave a few times an hour; the exact schedule depends on the availability of guides. For more details and to make sure tours are running, check the website of the Castle Island Association .

Note that most of Fort Independence is not accessible. The tour involves multiple steep flights of stairs and you need to leave strollers by the entrance. Only the parade ground on the first level is accessible.

If you want to know more about Fort Independence, I give more details about its history below.

Watch planes take off and land from Logan airport

Just north of Castle Island, across the harbor, lies Boston Logan International Airport. Nothing but open water separates the two, which means that you can easily observe planes as they take off and land.

The best place to see the planes is from the Lt. John J. McCorkle Fishing Pier on the north side of Castle Island. There are lots of benches on the pier where you can sit and watch the airport.

The downside to the airport’s proximity is that Castle Island periodically has loud plane noises overhead. But this is just part of the unique location. Maybe it’s just me, but I have always found there to be something magical about planes taking off and landing.

Get a meal (or a snack) at Sullivan’s

Back in 1951, the Sullivan family opened a concession stand on Castle Island. Now, 70 years later, Sullivan’s is an iconic South Boston eatery.

Sullivan’s – affectionately known as “Sully’s” – has hamburgers, hotdogs, and, of course, lobster rolls and other seafood. You can also get yummy ice cream to ward off the summer heat. (I recommend the mint chocolate chip.)

Sullivan’s is open seasonally and is take-out only. But there are plenty of picnic tables nearby and all over the island, so you won’t have trouble finding somewhere to eat. The line can get quite long, but it moves quickly and you can also order online in advance if you don’t want to wait.

Play on the Castle Island playground

If you have children, then don’t miss the large playground just a few hundred feet away from the beach. When your kids are tired of the water, the swings and slides will cheer them up.

Enjoy some good old-fashioned people-watching

I loved the atmosphere at Castle Island. The area felt happy and bright, full of energy and promise. Everywhere we looked people were having fun.

It also seemed more sociable than other areas in Boston. Locals hanging out on the pier talked to us and boasted about the attractions of South Boston. We felt like part of the community, even though it was our first time there.

I could have sat on the beach or in the grass for hours watching people go about their lives. There were little girls flying kites, middle-aged men fishing on the pier, and twenty-somethings wind-surfing on Pleasure Bay. Elderly Bostonians sat in the sun and chatted with each other (and us).

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All About Fort Independence

Up above I encouraged you to take a tour of Fort Independence. But what is this fort doing there in the first place?

Location is key. Even today, large ships have to pass between Castle Island and Governors Island (now Logan Airport) in order to reach the port of Boston. In the past, troops on Castle Island could control access to Boston with some well-placed cannons.

In the 1600s, Bostonians feared sea attacks from the Dutch in New York, the French in Canada, and even the British. Castle Island was the perfect place for a military stronghold, and the first fort on the site was built in the 1640s.

In the following turbulent centuries, when Great Britain was constantly fighting with either the French or the Dutch, the Massachusetts Bay Colony repaired and rebuilt the fort several times. In the early 1700s, a British architect designed the fifth fort, Castle William.

Castle William was a refuge for the British during the Siege of Boston at the start of the Revolutionary War. When the British eventually evacuated the city, they destroyed the fort.

The 6th and 7th forts were built by the new state of Massachusetts in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War and they were the first to be called “Fort Independence”. The current fort on Castle Island is the eighth, finished in 1851. It was retired in the late 1800s when military technology advanced and made its location useless.

For over 200 years, Bostonians looked to Castle Island as a source of defense and security. In actuality, the cannons never fired in combat. They saluted important visitors and, occasionally, frightened stubborn ship captains into paying taxes.

Now Fort Independence is a historical site cared for by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Castle Island Association. If you would like to read more about its history, I highly recommend William J. Reid’s Castle Island and Fort Independence .

This book is hard to find online, but they sell it for $5 at Fort Independence during tours. My husband and I picked up a copy when we were there and I have learned so much about Castle Island and Boston as a whole.

Castle Island: Frequently Asked Questions

Why is castle island called castle island.

The short answer is: we don’t know! Many people assume that the island took its name from the fort (or castle), but historical documents indicate that the island had its name before the first fort was built in the 1640s.

Historian William J. Reid speculates that perhaps the island looked like a castle to sailors approaching from a distance. But we will likely never know for sure.

Is there an entry fee for Castle Island?

No, entry to Castle Island is always free for everyone.

Are there bathrooms on Castle Island?

Yes, there are public bathrooms on Castle Island. They were messy when I visited, but this is hardly surprising with the beach nearby. At least there was soap and toilet paper.

Can I bring my dog to Castle Island?

Yes, you can! Note, however, that dogs are not allowed on the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You can still take your dog(s) around the rest of the island, though.

Is Castle Island accessible?

Parts of Castle Island are accessible to wheelchair users and people with low mobility. There are some flat paved paths and you can get excellent views of the harbor.

Castle Island is a popular place for senior citizens to visit. We saw so many elderly people with wheelchairs and walkers out enjoying the sun.

The Fort Independence tours are not accessible, since they involve multiple flights of stairs.

Final Thoughts on Castle Island

Castle Island really is the best place to see Boston Harbor, whether you are looking for planes, watching sailboats, or simply enjoying the ocean. You can also visit Castle Island on July 4 to get an excellent view of the fireworks and to watch the U.S.S. Constitution sail around the harbor.

So what are you waiting for? Head out to Castle Island to enjoy the beach, the fort, and some good food from Sullivan’s.

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A People's Guide to Greater Boston

An online extension of the book by Joseph Nevins, Suren Moodliar and Eleni Macrakis

Fort Independence (Castle Island)

Castle island, south boston.

A huge explosion rocked South Boston in the early afternoon of December 6, 1898, shaking homes and breaking windows in the City Point area. In April of that year, the federal government had re-taken control of Castle Island (much of which is occupied by Fort Independence) from the Boston Park Department due to the Spanish-American War. This involved the U.S. military’s using of the island as a mine depot.

The imperial war had a geographically extensive and long-term impact—it was through the war that the United States colonized the Philippines, for example, Puerto Rico became a U.S. semi-colony, and Guantánamo a U.S. military base. However, the war as a whole was fairly brief: with the important exception of hostilities in the Philippines, which endured for over a decade, it only lasted three and a half months. So soon after deploying 256 mines to Castle Island, the Army began to decommission them. In the process of doing so, one of the mines exploded, killing four men.

The history of Castle Island and the series of forts (eight in number, the first one built in 1634) that have dominated it over time is a complicated one. One of the oldest fortified sites in what was Britain’s empire in North America, the 22-acre island is today a venue for recreation and relaxation. For much of its history, however, it played a significant role in militarily maintaining relationships of domination and subordination at home and abroad—from its use by British forces to control a rebellious population in colonial-era Boston to the deployment of troops from Fort Independence to enforce the return of at least one fugitive slave and the putting down of anti-draft riots during the Civil War in the North End. Perhaps the most famous solider ever stationed at Fort Independence was an 18-year-old named Edgar Allan Poe; in 1827, he spent five months on Castle Island.

Since 1892, Castle Island has been linked to South Boston proper—first by a wooden bridge and today a landfill. During the summer months, free tours of the fort take place on a regular basis during the day.

Getting there :

Red Line to Andrew Station or Broadway Station. MBTA buses to Marine Park in the City Point neighborhood are available. Walk across Marine Park and around the lagoon to the fort.

To learn more :

Daniel Immerwahr, How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States , New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019.

William J. Reid, Castle Island and Fort Independence , Boston: Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston, 1995.

Serena Zabin, The Boston Massacre: A Family History , Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020.

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